Donor spotlight: Dick Millham

It would be fair to describe Dick Millham as tireless. At 89 years old, he still works full time at the insurance agency he founded decades ago even though he sold it to his son and a business partner more than 20 years ago. He also actively serves on the boards of three different organizations, including the Bucks County Chapter of the Fox Chase Cancer Center Board of Associates.

Mr. Millham calls himself a very active person—someone who needs to be doing something all the time. Specifically doing something for others. In addition to his day job handling the accounts of a few longtime clients, he maintains his business office as a base of operations in order to be a resource to others. Among the services he provides are information, inspiration, and charitable support.

“I’m still in the insurance business, but I am also in the business of giving money away instead of accumulating more. I have enough, and I have joy in my heart when I give it to worthy causes,” Mr. Millham said. For many years, he has supported cancer research at Fox Chase as well as Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and several local charities in Doylestown. He values all of these causes but prioritizes Fox Chase and enjoys encouraging his friends to support the Center too.

Mr. Millham’s association with Fox Chase began in the 1990s when his late wife was treated for breast cancer. Many years later his longtime companion was treated there for lung cancer. He made a generous gift out of gratitude for the care they both received, and before long he was invited to join the board of the Bucks County Chapter. It’s a group of dedicated volunteers that raises funds to support research at Fox Chase.

After years of involvement with Fox Chase as a donor and volunteer, Mr. Millham asked his primary care physician about an unusual mark on his cheek during his annual check-up. It turned out to be Merkel cell carcinoma, the rare skin cancer recently in the news. At that time, a very small number of cancer centers nationwide treated this form of cancer. Fox Chase happened to be one.

Having made the journey from grateful caregiver to grateful cancer survivor, Mr. Millham decided to include Fox Chase in his will. “Fox Chase is a major beneficiary of my estate plan,” he said. And he isn’t shy about telling others to follow suit. “I tell people that it’s extremely important to include Fox Chase in your estate plan. Everyone benefits from more cancer research, and I believe the donor receives a blessing too.”